TWO automotive specialists have joined forces in a move which could make Coventry the car prototype capital of Europe.

The new link-up is between Premier of Exhall, one of Britain's biggest specialist body manufacturers, and Anderson & Ryan, the bespoke seating and soft trim makers based in Canley, Coventry.

Both companies are established suppliers of highly specialist work for the major global car groups and their new relationship recognises the potential growth of a market for specialist, expensive niche cars.

Premier, which employs about 150 craftsmen at its Brindley Road factory, recently formed a partnership with Bitter Automotive, of Germany, in a similar bid to boost its prototype production capabilities.

The big car manufacturers are increasingly producing specialist models which demand only limited production runs of between 5,000 and 15,000 cars a year, compared to the 100,000-runs for volume cars.

The recent realignment of prototype specialists are part of the strategy to win that business.

Paul Sullivan, MD of Premier Sheet Metal, said: "With alliances now demanded from suppliers by auto manufacturers, the joint work of Anderson & Ryan and Premier will deliver quality from both companies to challenge the best."

Dave Anderson, of Anderson & Ryan, said: "For nearly 20 years, we have been designing and producing bespoke interiors of limited editions for major names such as Jaguar, Mercedes and Land Rover.

"We are complementary to Premier - they produce the metal structures for car seating and we specialise in the trim content."

Another leading Coventry prototype specialist, HPL Prototypes of Allesley, recently moved to snap up Lotus Cars Coventry. HPL now employs 70 people in Coventry, aimed at winning a share of the growing automotive specialist engineering business.